TORONTO — Hitting three home runs in a game is typically a winning recipe for the Baltimore Orioles. Except, apparently, when they face the Toronto Blue Jays.

Dating to July 2025, the Orioles had won 10 straight games in which they homered three or more times until Toronto ended that streak last weekend in Baltimore. The Orioles (31-34) thrice left the yard once again Saturday at the Rogers Centre, but a shaky outing by Kyle Bradish created an early hole that proved insurmountable in a 6-4 loss to the Blue Jays.

“He wasn’t as sharp and as crisp as he has been, falling behind, some bad counts, and the slider, or some of the sliders, were just up out over [the plate],” manager Craig Albernaz said of Bradish’s performance. “That’s when they did the damage, put good swings on them.”

Colton Cowser hit a solo shot in the second, Pete Alonso drove in a pair with an opposite-field blast in the sixth and Blaze Alexander lined one into the Blue Jays’ bullpen in the seventh, helping Baltimore climb back into the game after falling behind 5-1 in the third. But Blue Jays relievers Tyler Rogers and Louis Varland combined to shut the Orioles down over the final two innings and ensure the weekend series would be decided with a rubber match.

Bradish entered Saturday’s game having recorded a quality start in four of his past five outings while rounding into ace-caliber form. That progress hit a snag in the form of five runs on nine hits and three walks with three strikeouts over four innings. The Blue Jays strung together a decisive four-run rally in the third, highlighted by second baseman Ernie Clement’s three-run homer and an RBI single by shortstop Andrés Giménez.

“Apart from the Clement homer, I think it was balls just found their way up the middle or found a hole or dropped in front of the guys,” Bradish said. “I think it starts there with the two-out walk to Vladdy [Guerrero Jr.]. I’m not too mad about that, just from the hitter he is and being in a 1-1 ballgame. But got to get the next guy out, and obviously can’t hang the slider to Ernie there.”

Toronto scored all four runs with two outs, and they wouldn’t have plated any if Jackson Holliday had cleanly fielded a ground ball up the middle by left fielder Jesús Sánchez. The ball deflected off his glove, and the Blue Jays took advantage by stringing together four more hits. Bradish’s four innings were his fewest for any start since April 3.

“It’s a tough play. It’s a fast turf,” Albernaz said. “I think if he had a bigger glove, maybe, but nah. But I expect Jackson to make that play, would have been a hell of a play, but that’s the expectation we have with Jackson. But nah, that was a really tough play to make.”

His offense made things interesting. The Blue Jays used reliever Braydon Fisher as an opener with Spencer Miles as their bulk pitcher. The two right-handers combined to allow two runs over 5 1/3 frames, with Cowser’s homer and a runner left on base before Alonso’s blast accounting for the damage.

Cowser was shaken up on a play in the outfield when he tried to track down a deep fly ball by Clement and slammed into the wall.

Albernaz said Cowser experienced “pins and needles” in his left arm, but he was able to remain in the game, even after being immediately tested with another deep fly ball that he tracked down up against the wall.

Albernaz added that he expects Cowser to be available on Sunday.

“It’s good,” Cowser said when asked how his arm was feeling. “Nerve flared up a little bit. Hand went numb for a second, and it took a little bit longer than it normally does whenever that happens, so it’s OK.”

Alonso homered off beleaguered reliever Jeff Hoffman, who entered the game amid a smattering of boos from Blue Jays fans, for his 13th of the season, which tied Gunnar Henderson for the Orioles’ team lead. Alexander then took left-hander Mason Fluharty deep the following frame, pulling Baltimore to within two with eight outs left to go.

But after a leadoff single by Henderson — who had three hits — in the eighth, Blue Jays manager John Schneider turned to Rogers and the submariner retired all three batters he faced. He then handed the ball to Varland, owner of a minuscule 0.27 ERA this season, and he set the Orioles down in order for his 10th save of the season.

Keegan Akin and Albert Suárez each tossed two innings to keep the rest of the Orioles’ bullpen fresh. Akin was charged with one run, set up by the triple Clement recorded on Cowser’s play at the wall.

The Orioles will look to Shane Baz in the finale Sunday as he looks to remain hot, posting a 2.33 ERA over his past four starts. Former Oriole Kevin Gausman will take the mound for Toronto.

Around the horn

— Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo’s MRI results came back clean after he left Friday’s series opener with right abdominal discomfort, Albernaz announced in his pregame news conference Saturday. Basallo was absent from Saturday’s lineup, and Albernaz said he would be a game-time decision. He pinch-hit for O’Neill in the ninth and grounded out.

“Yeah, everything went OK,” Albernaz said of Basallo. “He went through the work day and he felt good, and we did a nice slow ramp up during the game to make sure he was ready to go and pinch hit in a spot.”

— With Basallo’s status uncertain, the Orioles selected catcher Sam Huff’s contract from Triple-A Norfolk and designated utility player Weston Wilson for assignment before the game. Huff, who was already on the taxi squad, gave Baltimore a third catcher for the time being. Wilson will be subject to waivers after he hit .231 with a .681 OPS in 19 games.

— Starter Chris Bassitt completed a bullpen session Saturday but is also “looking at some opinions right now” as the Orioles wait and see whether he will be able to start Monday against the Seattle Mariners. If Bassitt can’t go, top prospect Trey Gibson would be the obvious choice to replace him in the rotation as he’s also lined up for Monday.

— Alexander has more home runs (two) than Kade Strowd has innings pitched (one) for the Arizona Diamondbacks this year after they were traded for one another this offseason. Strowd made his season debut Friday and allowed a run before being optioned back to Triple-A Reno, where he owns a 4.95 ERA in 20 appearances.

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